EMU Soccer Drops MAC Semifinal Contest to Western Michigan, 1-0

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University soccer team saw its 2013 campaign end Friday, Nov. 8, as the top seeded Eagles fell, 1-0, to the No. 4 seeded Western Michigan University Broncos in a MAC Tournament semifinal contest at Scicluna Field.

EMU ends its season with a record of 12-7-2, including 8-2-1 in MAC play that resulted in the program's first MAC regular season title since 2003. Western Michigan improves to 10-5-5 on the season, advancing to the MAC Championship game Sunday, Nov. 10, at Scicluna Field. The Broncos will play the winner of No. 2 seed Miami University and No. 6 Ball State University.

The contest was a defensive struggle throughout as both teams could not find many quality scoring opportunities. EMU out-shot the Broncos, 14-10, but WMU held the advantage of shots on goal, 4-3. EMU goalkeeper Megan McCabe (Arlington Heights, Ill.-Prospect) matched Western Michigan's Michelle Watson in saves as each keeper stopped three shots. Lindsey Lee scored her first goal of the season that proved to be the game-winner for WMU, scoring on a deflection with 36:50 remaining in the first half.

In the ninth minute, Western sent a corner kick into the box where WMU's Kylie Nylen headed a ball towards the net. McCabe was able to get a hand on it to make the save, but Lee followed her teammate's deflected strike and sent a ball in that found the back of the net.

Five minutes later, the Eagles had multiple chances to tie the game with four consecutive corner kicks. Senior Stephanie Clarke (London, Ontario-St. Thomas Aquinas) sent four straight into the box, and three of them connected with the head of MAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year Emily Dzik (Troy, Mich.-Troy). However, the Broncos' defense held strong, preventing seven EMU corner kicks from connecting with an Eagle in the box and finding the goal.

After both teams attempted eight shots in the opening 45 minutes, Eastern took six shots compare to just two for WMU. Despite controlling ball possession for the majority of the second half, the Green and White could not find a scoring opportunity, landing zero shots on target in the final stanza.

The end of the 2013 season marks the conclusion of the EMU careers of five seniors: Clark, Cara Cutaia (Burlington, Ontario-Notre Dame Catholic), Allison Kaim (Palos Hill, Ill.-AA Stagg), Emily Kowalzyk (Tinley Park, Ill.-Victor J.) and Megan Pedro (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Canterbury).

EMU Soccer Drops MAC Semifinal Contest to Western Michigan, 1-0

Next Event

Team Stats

Emily Dzik

Cara Cutaia

Madison Hirsch

Angela Vultaggio

Eastern Michigan Athletics